Medical SAP

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) is the term used to determine if a student is making acceptable progress toward a degree or certificate. At the end of each payment period/semester, a review of a student’s progress is conducted. The first review will be at the conclusion of the fall 2011 semester. A student’s failure to meet Satisfactory Academic Progress standards (for all terms enrolled, not just those terms that aid was received) may result in loss of federal aid eligibility.

A student must demonstrate progress by accumulating academic credits at a rate that indicates graduation in a timely manner. A student who is not progressing toward graduation at the defined Completion Rate will not receive federal financial aid regardless of his/her GPA.

A student must complete at least 70 percent of all cumulative attempted credit hours in order to be eligible for federal financial aid.

Courses repeated for any reason will be counted as attempted credit hours. Repeated courses with passing grades will not be counted as completed credits unless they would also appear on the official transcript.

Immediately upon completion of the payment period/semester and grades are posted the SAP review will take place. Any student that did not meet the minimum requirements for SAP will receive an electronic notification to their UB email address detailing the appeal process for mitigating circumstances. A student has the right to appeal the loss of federal financial aid eligibility only if mitigating circumstances (events totally beyond the student’s control) occurred during the preceding payment period/semester.

A student must complete the Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal Form (attach the applicable supporting documentation) and submit it to the appeal committee by the deadline date. Appeals received after the deadline can be automatically denied.

The appeals are reviewed by the SAP Appeals Committee. The decisions are final and students will receive an electronic notification to their UB email address regarding the outcome.

A student who fails to maintain the cumulative GPA and/or meet the Pace Rate standard is placed on Financial Aid Probation only if the student has had their appeal approved.

The student will continue to receive federal financial aid for one payment period/semester (referred to as the financial aid probationary period).

A student will receive an electronic notification to their UB email address regarding the Satisfactory Academic Progress standards that must be met by a specific term in order to retain eligibility for federal financial aid.

If the student is still not making Satisfactory Academic Progress after the probationary period, he/she will become ineligible for federal financial aid until all three SAP standards are successfully met.

The School of Medicine defines the Maximum Time Frame for students to complete their educational program as a standard 4 year time frame. Remediation is offered in the non-standard term (e.g. summer session). Therefore, this policy adheres to the 150% of the published length of the educational program.

Information is subject to change without notice due to changes in federal, state and/or institutional rules and regulations. Students must complete a FAFSA every year. Students must be making satisfactory academic progress to continue to receive financial aid.